by Mantas Aliukonis
The clock is ticking for FK Riteriai. Once a proud contender in Lithuania’s top football division, the club now finds itself on the edge of collapse. And the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF) has made one thing crystal clear: there will be no second rescue.
This is the latest chapter in a turbulent saga that’s rocked A Lyga this season, one that’s as much about boardroom missteps as it is about missed chances on the pitch.
Behind Closed Doors
When Singapore-based sports marketing firm Red Card Global invested in Riteriai before the 2024 season—with the LFF’s stamp of approval—it was sold as a lifeline for the struggling side. But instead of rejuvenation, the partnership quickly turned into a case study in dysfunction.
Players stopped receiving their wages on time. Communication between Riteriai’s long-time owner Jan Nevoina and the new investors collapsed. Accusations flew: Red Card Global claims the funds meant for the club ended up in Nevoina’s own company as payment for shares. Nevoina denies wrongdoing, but the fallout was swift—Singaporeans pulled out, and the deal collapsed.
Under the original agreement, Red Card was to acquire four-sevenths of the club’s shares, with Nevoina retaining the remaining three-sevenths as leverage until full payment. But both sides defaulted on terms, leaving ownership in limbo.
Now Nevoina says there are seven potential investors at the table. The club is officially up for sale—price tag: €450,000. But no concrete offers have materialized. Negotiations are ongoing, and Nevoina has promised updates by the end of May.
“There’s interest,” he says. “But the buyers must present a long-term vision and commit financially to the current budget. We’re ready to cooperate and even cover pending debts if necessary.”
LFF Draws the Line
The LFF had already stepped in once—wiring €50,000 to Riteriai in early April to cover overdue wages and rent. But with May now halfway gone, little has changed.
“The club continues to operate independently,” LFF president Edgaras Stankevičius told us. “There’s no legal basis for another payment. We’ve done what we can.”
When asked if UEFA solidarity funds could provide relief, Stankevičius clarified that Riteriai had already received €27,000 from UEFA programs for their First League campaign last year—including a €13,000 grant for youth development.
Behind the headlines is a deeper, systemic issue. Riteriai—despite being twice runners-up in Lithuania and reaching a domestic cup final—find themselves in a city that doesn’t seem to care. While one Vilnius club enjoys generous municipal support, Riteriai have been left to fend for themselves, scraping by on short-term deals, player sales, and even bus rentals for away games.
There’s a visible double standard across Lithuanian sports: clubs aligned with local governments thrive, while independents like Riteriai teeter on the brink. It’s not just about funding; it’s about survival. When commitments to coaches and players can’t be met, talent walks—and so do fans.
Echoes from the Past
This isn’t the first time Lithuanian football has faced such chaos. In 1995, champions Mažeikiai ROMAR folded mid-season, and were replaced by a youth national team-backed side, Vilnius Alsa. Could history repeat itself?
Stankevičius admits that Plan C—or even D—is already on the table. If Riteriai disappear, a replacement may be formed from the Lithuanian U21 setup to keep A Lyga’s team count intact. But it’s a last resort. “We hope the club survives,” he says.
For now, league rules dictate that if Riteriai fold before completing half the season, all their results will be voided. If they survive beyond the halfway mark, their matches will count, even if the club doesn’t make it to the end.
The uncertainty extends onto the pitch. Surinamese midfielder Roscello Vlijter recently left the club. Rumors also swirl around goalkeeper Garissone Innocent—10 games, 18 goals conceded—who is believed to have returned home. The club hasn’t confirmed his status, only citing a “mystery illness” and introducing 17-year-old Artiom Šankin as their new No.1.
Šankin follows in the footsteps of Arnas Voitinovičius, who after a few standout games with Riteriai made the leap to Benfica’s U19 squad in Portugal. It’s a flash of hope in an otherwise bleak situation.
Bigger Questions for Lithuanian Football
Riteriai’s plight exposes structural issues that go far beyond one club. UEFA and FIFA pour millions into the LFF, yet many clubs survive on crumbs. More than 20,000 kids play organized football in Lithuania—more than basketball. But mismanagement, political favoritism, and apathy from city leaders keep football in the shadow of its hardwood cousin.
Rather than build sustainable models, some clubs rely on agents and foreign imports looking to pad stats before moving on. It’s a vicious cycle: lower salaries mean lower retention, which leads to poor performance, which leads to even lower funding.
Riteriai were once one of Lithuania’s premier footballing sides. Now they’re a cautionary tale. Whether new investors step in or the club folds, one thing is clear: the LFF won’t be cutting another check.
And unless something drastic changes, Vilnius may soon lose one of its top-flight teams—not on the pitch, but in the boardroom.
If you are enjoying Mantas’s interviews and analysis, please consider supporting his other projects here and here, as well as follow him on TikTok
